MINOT (AP) - Drought has taken a toll on the Souris River, affecting golf courses and area wildlife refuges.

As of Dec. 11, Minot had recorded just 11 inches of precipitation for the year, compared to 18 inches on average.

"The flow is zero right now. I don't think there's anything coming down at all," said Rick Hair, Minot's river manager. "We really haven't had any flow all year."

Officials say the river in Minot could freeze solid this winter, and that heavy snows are needed throughout the region to recharge reservoirs in the basin next spring and bring river levels up to normal.

"Obviously we're concerned about the spring runoff and the amount of water we'll be getting next spring," said Duane Anderson, who works at the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge. "We probably can't afford another spring without sufficient runoff, or we'll be in trouble next summer."

Wildlife officials say the possibility exists for an extensive fish kill throughout the entire Souris River below Lake Darling this winter.